A government MP has suggested penalties for parking illegally on Devon Spring Road near The Barn charity shop.

Christopher Famous, the MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11), said despite the recent installation of No Parking signs along a section of road by the Department of Works and Engineering as well as the creation of “new, underutilised parking spots”, The Barn’s patrons continue to park illegally.

“This selfish disregard for the signs is creating a severe hazard, as these vehicles frequently block the road,” he said.

Mr Famous said the trend continued on Tuesday, with illegally parked vehicles on both sides leaving little space for others to pass through the road.

The Barn is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

“The parking situation has been ongoing for the past five to ten years,” Mr Famous told The Royal Gazette.

“People just have not been complying with the no parking signs outside on the roadway and I think more enforcement is needed from the police.”

Mr Famous said in the event of a fire at a nearby residence, rescue services “would be delayed, potentially with catastrophic consequences”.

He added: “This obstruction is not just an inconvenience for the scores of residents and hundreds of Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute employees but, critically, it impedes access for emergency service vehicles.”

He said it had been reported to the police with images submitted which documented “this persistent bad parking behaviour”.

Mr Famous said the manager of The Barn had expressed frustration at the “continued lack of respect” for official signage.

A spokeswoman at The Barn said the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda — which runs the facility — will “continue to look at ways to further alleviate the congestion on sales/drop-off days”.

She thanked residents for their patience on the charity’s open days, along with police for addressing the issue.

Mr Famous urged visitors to The Barn to consider those who live and work in the neighbourhood.

He added: “Further, those who violate the rules need to be ticketed, towed and or clamped.”